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A Vibrant Platform At The Service Of Cluster Organisations

The European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP) is an action of the Cluster Internationalisation Programme for SMEs funded under COSME launched by DG GROW of the European Commission in 2016.
The ECCP provides networking and information support for clusters and their members aiming to improve their performance and increase their competitiveness through trans-national and international cooperation.

About Cluster Organisations

This is the stage on which cluster organisations present themselves - their structures, services, experiences and above all, their interest in cooperation with peers. We invite you to explore this diverse cluster community, identify your potential cooperation partner and show the world what you are good at - by profiling your organisation !

What is ESCP-S3 ?

The European Strategic Cluster Partnerships for smart specialisation investments (ESCP-S3) are transnational cluster partnerships that support cluster cooperation in thematic areas related to regional smart specialisation strategies and to increase the involvement of the industry in the context of the Smart Specialisation Platform for Industrial Modernisation.

What is ESCP-4i?

The European Strategic Cluster Partnerships – Going International (ESCPs-4i) are transnational cluster partnerships that develop and implement a joint internationalination strategy and support SME internationalisation towards third countries beyond Europe.

What are ESCPs ?

The European Strategic Cluster Partnerships have been launched by the European Commission as effective means of supporting cross-border collaboration for the benefit of SMEs with the ultimate goal of boosting economic growth and competitiveness in Europe.

About matchmaking events

ECCP organises inter-European matchmaking events, as well as opportunities for you to meet your peers from other countries – either in EU or abroad. Find also additional international matchmaking opportunities promoted here.

About European Cluster Initiatives

As an information hub, ECCP collects and structures a wide variety of information relevant for cluster organisations from various European programmes and initiatives like the ones below.
These are supporting in different ways the interaction between clusters and for driving the competitiveness of European businesses. We offer you here the unique opportunity to find out more about the most relevant cluster-related projects and what you can learn from them. Or, why not, cooperate with them!

The Flemish cluster network

Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (in Dutch: AgentschapInnoveren & Ondernemen) is a government agency in Flanders, the Dutch speaking, Northern part of Belgium. It is in charge of implementing the economic, innovation and enterprise policy and also promotes and supports clusters consisting of enterprises and knowledge institutions that are collaborating dynamically.

Cluster policy in Flanders

On 4 March 2016, the Flemish government approved the resolution that defines the support for innovation clusters in Flanders. Its main goals are: to unlock unused economic potential and to increase competitiveness among Flemish companies through active and sustainable collaboration between actors.

Within the Flemish cluster program, we focus on companies with growth ambitions, innovation awareness, an international attitude as well as willingness to collaborate with other companies and knowledge centres in order to contribute to competitiveness growth among a large group of Flemish companies, apart from achieving their individual business targets.

Innovative businessnetworks (IBNs) are intensively collaborating organizations aiming to increase the dynamic between them. The networks are expected to implement concrete action plans with a visible economic added value for each of the participating organizations. IBNs are typically small-scale initiatives with a support period of three years. This cluster type also includes mutual initiatives in upcoming domains.

You can find an overview of the Flemish Innovative businessnetworks that are currently supported by FI&E here (in Dutch).

Spearhead clusters

Spearhead clusters differ from IBNs in terms of scale, maturity, time horizon and ambition level. They are typically large-scale, ambitious and can receive up to 10 years of funding. Flemish spearhead clusters are limited in number, since they have to be active in a domain that is of strategic importance to Flanders.
They collaborate in a triple-helix format, with companies, knowledge centres and the government, in order to develop and implement an ambitious long-term strategy and competitiveness programme for the respective Flemish strategic domain. Currently, FI&E supports 5 spearhead clusters.

You can find an overview of the Flemish spearhead clusters supported by FI&E here.

Networking

The clusters are part of the FI&E network. In this network we bring together all organizations that are at the service of companies. This is a diverse group of partners: from interest groups and federations, from knowledge and research centres, cluster organizations, local authorities and government institutions, to private service providers such as banks, accountants and consultants.

Through this network we connect the network partners and promote the knowledge of each other's products, services and expertise. We do this through a varied annual program of activities that inspire, inform and bring together the network partners. Some initiatives are tailored to a certain group, others are open to the entire network.

Specific for the innovation clusters we organized several learning and networking events in the last two years and will keep doing so in the coming years.